SerraDIPITY Volume 15 * Issue 25

SerraDIPITY

Volume 15 * Issue 25 * March 25, 2010

It takes a TEAM to educate a Serra child.

We're going green and so can you! Please view all of the linked articles for the most up-to-date information on school activities and events, but print only those which you need to return to the school! If you are unable to print any of the linked flyers or forms, a limited number are available for families to pick-up in the School Office.

Virtue for Third Trimester:

Motivation

Partner virtues we will work on:

Responsibility, Enthusiasm, and Commitment

Lunch & Treat Order Forms

In-N-Out
Orders due March 31st

Juice it Up

Orders due March 31st

Serra After School Programs:

Click each class title for more information on the exciting After School Programs we offer on campus!

Rev. 3-19-09

Volunteer Opportunities:

CLICK HERE

to check out a list of the most up-to-date volunteer opportunities available for exciting programs such as

Kids Art Fair,

Mother Son Bowling and Anchor Ball.

A Message from the Principal:

2010-2011 Registration Packets

A very special thank you to more than 2/3 of our families who were able to attend the registration meetings this past week. I look forward to working with all of our families as we strive to maintain our goals through increased parental support of time, talent and treasure. If you were unable to attend the meetings this week your registration packets are enclosed in the Weekly Envelope today. A video of the financial presentation is not available.

CLICK HERE to download a PDF of the evening's PowerPoint presentation

Announcement of New Management Structure
for Serra Catholic School
At our meetings this week a formal letter from Mr. Greg Dhuyvetter, Superintendant of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Orange was distributed. If you were not present, CLICK HERE to view the letter. The letter states that we at Serra are moving to a President/Principal(s) model to better serve the needs of the entire Serra Catholic School Community. I would like to just briefly clarify the roles for you as we begin the search. The definitions below will help if you keep in mind a CEO/COO business format.
President of a Catholic Elementary School - This person serves as the head of school bearing the ultimate responsibility for the school to the Pastors of our four parishes and the Diocese of Orange. This position is the "outside person" of the school, the visible leader. This person's role is to oversee the Catholic Identity and Mission of Serra and implementation of the Strategic Plan goals with the School Advisory board. The President is responsible for advancement/development, fiscal management, fundraising, capital campaigns, facility growth and development , constituent relations, enrollment management activities, and liason to school advisory boards/parent groups. Goal setting, vision and Catholic identity permeate the responsibilities of the president while the day-to-day operations/decisions of the school, the direct support of students and teachers is delegated to the Principals.
Principals K-4 and 5-8 - These two individuals are the academic and instructional leaders of the school. They are directly responsible for the implementation of the mission and school-wide learning expectations through curriculum, instructional strategies and student activities. They are directly responsible for teacher professional development, teacher supervision, the hiring of new teachers , school-wide climate and discipline, faculty morale, student admissions and dismissals, parental communication and support of student learning and all student activities. Good communication and rapport with the President is key to their role. Overlapping with the President is the role of a true understanding of the Mission and Catholic Identity of the school as both positions will work closely together to implement the vision.

Prayer for Trust
At our meetings this week I read this prayer for TRUST that I wrote in light of the upcoming changes and ask that you join the staff in saying this prayer.

Prayer for Trust
O Christ Jesus, when all is uncertain and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to You, we shall see Your hand, Your purpose, Your will through all that comes our way.

Stations of the Cross
Thank you to Mrs. Valdez and her Seventh Grade students, who have been working very hard preparing for their upcoming presentation of the Stations of the Cross. The performance will be held on Holy Thursday, April 1st at 9:30 a.m. in our Student Activity Center and all parents are welcome to join us.

Serving Christ's Children,

Angeline Trudell
Principal

2010-2011 Tuition Assistance Applications
Due March 31st

Families wishing to apply for 2010-11 Tuition Assistance may request an application by e-mail to Gloria Clifton (gclifton@serraschool.org) or by CLICKING HERE for more information regarding our Tuition Assistance Program. Please note that completed applications must be submitted directly to Private Aid Service on or before Wednesday, March 31, 2010.
For questions, please contact Gloria Clifton in the Business Office at 888-1990, ext. 147.

Unsolicited e-mails

As Serra continues to go green in our communications, families have noticed an increase in the number of unsolicited e-mails from other Serra families.

As with our Family Directory, we ask that Serra families refrain from utilizing any distribution lists from Serra administrative and Room Parent e-mails to add to their business contact lists.

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

ELS Parent Meeting Scheduled

Does your child: Struggle with school? Have difficulty performing at grade level? Require modified curriculum? Have limited independent learning skills? Require additional academic resources and support?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, ELS may help! You are invited to attend a no-obligation meeting to learn more about ELS on Friday, April 23rd, from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. in the ELS Lab (PEB Room 226). Please call Dr. Mariam Mott at ext. 143 if you have questions or to RSVP your attendance at the meeting.

CLICK HERE for more information